This study endeavoured to establish what influences students to undertake library
and information studies. Are prospective students of library and information
studies choosing their course and future occupation for the same sorts of reasons as
in the past? Are prospective students well informed about their future occupation
when they choose a course of study? What is the relative importance of some of
the factors influencing their choice? Do metropolitan, regional and isolated
students have the same understanding and expectations of their course and future
occupation?
A study of first year undergraduate students of library and information studies at
three universities sought to provide answers to these questions. A quantitative and
qualitative comparison of first year undergraduate students of Library and
Information Studies at the University of Canberra and a random group from the
same University was also undertaken in order to provide some comparative data.
The findings showed that reasons for choosing library and information studies have
generally not changed as much as one might expect. An interest in books and
reading still ranks as a relatively important factor in students' choice, though there
is some evidence of an increased interest in career and employment issues. Library
and information studies students without an occupational background in the
discipline generally have a hazy picture of what is involved in their future
occupation and this lack of knowledge is compounded where students are located in
regional or isolated areas. Generally most library and information studies
respondents expressed a desire to enter 'traditional' workplaces in libraries rather
than entering the broader information management field.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218925 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Farley-Larmour, Kim, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Information Management & Tourism |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Kim Farley-Larmour |
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